Forming packages, forming tubes and fiber cakes for glass fibers

The present invention provides a forming tube for use in a fiber winding operation, the forming tube comprising: a central region comprising a wall having a generally cylindrical configuration; and an end region extending from the wall of the central region, the first end region comprising a wall having an outer surface sloped outwardly from an inner edge of the end region to an outer edge of the end region. In one nonlimiting embodiment of the invention, the end region is a first end region, and the forming tube further comprises a second end region symmetrical to the first end region and extending outwardly from an opposing end of the wall of the central region opposite the first end region.